Victoria duo’s marathon, friendship inspires others to raise $230K for cancer charity

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — A year ago, two friends in Victoria, one with Stage 4 cancer, decided not to let the pandemic cancel their plans to run a marathon. Since then, Grace Lore and Lise Berube have kept running — putting one foot in front of the other while staying six feet apart — logging thousands of kilometres, and inspiring hundreds of other people to help raise nearly a quarter of a million dollars for charity.

Their 2020 marathon was also a fundraiser, with the money raised going to Callanish, an organization that supports people living with and dying from cancer. The organization is not government funded, it relies entirely on donations. This year, the pair had more time to plan, and launched the Move Because You Can campaign in February — well in advance of their May 8 marathon.

“This year we just wanted to start to start our planning a lot sooner,” Berube explains, adding more than 300 people joined the pair on the day of the run, including a few in the UK and one in Peru.

“I’ve had so many people who have reached out and said how much fun they had, and how great it was to just get out, and get to be around people in a really safe way, where they’re moving around and not gathering in groups, but are able to get out there and feel a connection to other people — which I think we’ve just missed so much this past year. ”

We MOVED!

Listening to callanish’s virtual celebration and THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of km we’re biked, walked, ran, and hiked today.

Move for your wellness, for connection, and because you can.

Need motivation? https://t.co/WJqzdi1Vsr pic.twitter.com/qa4nm9Idoo

— Grace Lore (@GraceALore) May 9, 2021

For Berube and Lore, getting together for a run is a way for them to support each other through challenges in their lives, and to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the year since their first marathon, Lore’s 4-year-old son Asher was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Lise’s cancer is incurable, and she is still undergoing treatment.

“With all of the fluctuations in health, and crises, and COVID, and ups and downs — all the things that life throws at all of us any day, at any given times — it’s so great to have these runs because if it is one of those things that’s a constant no matter what,” Berube explains.

“We’ll go for runs even if I’ve got chemo that day, or if Grace has to go to Vancouver Children’s Hospital for an appointment, whatever it might be. We always still have that running that just grounds us, and provides us with that adrenalin, and helps with mental health, and allow us to connect with each other. ”

Here goes. https://t.co/XZXvp8If0n pic.twitter.com/fHaGoBTW7a

— Grace Lore (@GraceALore) May 8, 2021

Lore says being able to run with Berube after her son’s diagnosis has meant being able to take care of herself while getting support from her friend.

“The running became an outlet for me, for my energy, for my mental health, to keep going, to stay connected and energized,” she says.

“To run with someone who’s who has more expertise than I’m sure anyone would ever like to have on that kind of journey was everything.”

RELATED: Victoria mom with Stage 4 cancer won’t let COVID-19 keep her from running her own marathon

Another change and challenge for Lore this past year was her election as an MLA, and running with Berube helped her manage the stress of the campaign.

“Running was a way for me to stay connected with Lise over the year. It was the only kind of social interaction outside our family bubbles in our home, was running 6 feet apart,” she says.

“As we got to the fall and the election, Lise ran a 20k each week with me to keep my energy high and my mood going.”

Seeing other people follow their lead, and join their fundraiser has boosted both women’s spirits.

“This whole thing has just been such a gift in my life this year,” Lore says.

“It’s just been so overwhelming, so far beyond what we thought it would be,” adds Berube.

 

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A post shared by Lise and Grace (@movebecauseyoucan2021)

Photos posted to social media by supporters of the campaign show people wearing bright blue T-shirts emblazoned with the logo. Berube says one of the “coolest “things about the campaign has been hearing from people who ran into total strangers while out walking, biking, or running who were wearing the same shirt.

“Just that thought, of having this representation all over the place was so incredible,” she says.

Although the marathon is over, the fundraiser is ongoing. Berube says the money will allow the organization to continue to offer programs and support to people like her.

“They’re really amazing in that they really cater to the community of the people who need them. They’ve been innovative and flexible over the years in making sure that they’re doing what needs to be done for the people who are involved,” she says.

“There’s a long list of things that they’ll be able to do with this money which just feel so great to know, that it’s really tangible things that I know are going to be going right back into serving the community, and doing such great things for people with cancer, and their families, and their supporters.”

So far, more than $230,000 has been raised.